Mauritius Public Holidays 2024
New Year | Monday 01 January |
New Year | Tuesday 02 January |
Thaipoosam Cavadee | Thursday 25 January |
Abolition of Slavery | Thursday 01 February |
Chinese Spring Festival | Saturday 10 February |
Maha Shivaratree | Friday 08 March |
Independence and Republic Day | Tuesday 12 March |
Ugaadi | Tuesday 09 April |
Eid-ul-Fitr** | Wednesday 10 April |
Labour Day | Wednesday 01 May |
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Thursday 15 August |
Ganesh Chaturthi | Sunday 08 September |
Divali | Thursday 31 October |
Arrival of Indentured Labourers | Saturday 02 November |
Christmas | Wednesday 25 December |
Fixed public holidays
There are 15 public holidays in the year, of which the following are fixed:
- New Year - 1st/2nd January
- Independence & Republic Day - 12th May
- Labour Day - 1st May
- Assumption Day - 15th August
- Arrival of Indentured Labourers - 2nd November
- Christmas - 25th December
Floating public holidays
The remaining public holidays vary from year to year.
- Thaipoosam Cavadee - January/February.
- Maha Shivaratree - February.
- Chinese Spring Festival - January/February.
- Ougadi - March.
- Id-El-Fitr - May/June.
- Ganesh Chaturthi - September.
- Divali - October/November.
Religious festivals
Mauritians celebrate a variety of festivals originating from three different continents.
Maha Shivaratree
"The Great Night of Shiva." Hindu devotees set on foot pilgrimage from all over the island for the sacred lake at Grand Bassin, usually carrying a `Kanwar' - light wooden arches covered in flowers. At Grand Bassin, pilgrims collect holy water which is ritually poured over a statuette of Shiva in re-enactment of the classical myth according to which Shiva's throat had to be cooled down after he drank the poison from the oceans to spare mankind. The seas became poisoned during the churning of the ocean which, according to one creation myth, gave rise to the universe.
Father Laval
On September 9, people of all faiths gather at the shrine of Father Jacques Desire Laval in Ste Croix, Port-Louis. Father Laval was known both for his fight to abolish slavery, and for possessing miraculous healing powers. His shrine is still believed to possess healing faculties and the pilgrimage to Ste Croix is somewhat reminiscent of Lourdes.
Spring festival
(January/February) The Chinese New Year falls on a different day every year because of the adjustment of lunar to solar days. The dominant colour is red, symbolic of happiness. Food is symbolically piled up to ensure that the year will be bountiful, and the traditional wax cake is distributed to relatives and friends. The day is enlivened by the firing of massive quantities of crackers to ward off evil spirits.
Divali
Divali is celebrated in October/November and marks the homecoming of Rama after his victory over Ravana and also commemorates Krishna's destruction of the demon Narakasuran. Clay oil lamps are placed inside and in front of every hindu home, turning the island into a fairyland of flickering lights.
Holi
This Hindu festival is as colourful as the numerous legends which inspire it - the most popular of which is the destruction of the demon-king Hiranyakashipu and of the evil Holika by Narasimha, the half-man half-lion incarnation of Visnu. It is a festival of revelry when men and women chase each other, squirting coloured water and powder on one another.
Cavadee
Cavadee is celebrated in January/February primarily by Hindus of Tamil origin in honour of Kartikeya, the elder son of Siva. Cavadee is among the most impressive hindu events: devotees with their tongues, cheeks and body pierced with needles and hooks dance their way trance-like to the temple carrying the `Cavadee' - a wooden arch covered with flowers with a pot of milk at each end of its base. The Cavadee is placed before the deity in the temple.
Ougadi
Ougadi or the Telugu New Year is celebrated in the month of March. Ougadi symbolises renewal, new beginnings, and a time for reflecting on the year past while looking forward to new opportunities.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by Hindus of Marathi origin on the 4th day of the lunar month of August/September, as the birthday of Ganesha, the younger son of Siva, and traditionally the God of wisdom and remover of all obstacles.
Id-El-Fitr
Id-El-Fitr is a significant Islamic festival celebrated with joy and reverence to mark the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. The day begins with a special prayer service held at mosques. Families wear new clothes, share festive meals, and exchange the greeting “Eid Mubarak” to wish blessings and goodwill. Emphasising compassion, unity, and generosity, Id-El-Fitr brings loved ones together in a spirit of joy and thanksgiving.